Major £250m redevelopment announced for Faslane naval base

A major £250m redevelopment has been announced for Faslane’s HM Naval Base on the River Clyde.

The money will be doled out over the next three years to help adapt and improve the infrastructure at the site, preparing it to welcome the new Dreadnought Class of deterrent submarines and SSN-AUKUS, the Royal Navy’s next generation of attack submarines.

According to the Ministry of Defence, it will kickstart a “multi-decade multi-billion redevelopment, to help sustain the UK’s fleet of nuclear-powered submarines”.

The UK Labour Government’s decision on came less than 24 hours after chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a £14.2bn investment into the Sizewell C nuclear plant in Sussex.

The Government also said it would invest £4bn in the naval base at Plymouth over ten years, as well as £6bn to transform the UK’s submarine industrial base.

The UK Government said: “In addition, we will embark on a multi-decade, multi-billion redevelopment of HMNB Clyde, with an initial £250m of funding over three years, supporting jobs, skills and growth across the west of Scotland.”

Scottish secretary Ian Murray said the HMNB Clyde, which is the home of the Royal Navy Submarine Service, plays a “crucial role” in supporting the the UK’s first and final line of defence – the nuclear deterrent.

He said: “This extra £250m investment for HMNB Clyde is another fantastic example of how Scotland is at the heart of the UK defence policy.

“As home of the Royal Navy Submarine Service – including the UK’s nuclear deterrent – HMNB Clyde will play a crucial role for decades to come as we restore Britain’s readiness, deter our adversaries and help drive economic growth across the UK, as part of our Plan for Change.”

Murray added: “Over 6,500 military and civilian personnel are employed at HMNB Clyde, making it the second largest employment site in Scotland, with a total of around 25,600 jobs across Scotland supported by an annual multi-billion pound Ministry of Defence investment.”

As part of the Strategic Defence Review, the government has committed to build up to 12 SSN-AUKUS submarines, which will replace the current fleet of Astute Class attack submarines.